Luggage-carrier.



No. 634,6u. Patented ont. lo, 1899. .1. w. BUTTS.

LUGGAGE CARRIER.

, (Application le'd Mar. 4, 1899.)

(No llode.;

v5.; Je Y A' "l---s UNITED 'STAT-nsf vIMTEN'r A OFFICE.

JOHN W. BUTTS, OF SPRNGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

LUGGAGE-ommen.

srncrrrcnrrolv aiming part of Letters rarest No. 634,611, dated otobei- 1o, 1899.

` tiranos sea nach 4,1899. stanno, 707,755. (Nomar-.1.)

Tor/ZZ whom it maryan-uccide.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. BUTTS, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Springtield,in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusettshave invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Luggage-Carriers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

n This invention relates to improvements in luggage-carriers for bicycles, the object of the invention being to provide a luggage-carrier which is capable yof being applied on the vehic1e` in such a manner as to distribute the weight of the load throughout dierent parts of the frame, relieving much of the strain at the head of the machine, and, furthermore, to render the members of the'luggage-carrier which directly'support the load capable of f being when not in use disposed closely along-` side a suitable part of the bicycle-frame.

Another object of the invention is to construct the luggage-carrier in such a manner that it may be applied on the frames of bicycles of diferent lengths. The invention consists inl constructions and combinations of parts, all substantially as hereinafter fully described, and set Afort-hin the claims. Y j e f l Reference is to be had to theaccompanyin g drawings,in which this invention is illustrated as carried out in application on a bicycle having a diamond-shaped frame and on a'hicycle for ladies, and insaid drawings-i v Y Figure 1 represents a side view of a bicycle having a diamond frame and showing the luggage-carrier mounted thereon and arranged for use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the forward part of-a ladys wheel sufficient to show the combination therewith of the luggage-carrier suitably constructed therefor. Eig. 3 is a perspective viewof the luggage-carrier in the for-m shown in Fig. 1Q Fig. a isalperspective view on a larger scale for illustrating details of construction of a part of the carrier. Fig. 5A is a longitudinal sectional view of the distensible portion of the luggagecarrier shown inA Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is aperspective view of the Vluggage-carrier for ladies wheels., e p

Similarcharacters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the views. l I willfirst describe in detail the luggage- 'enmity-'0f @he baffle -sides with the transversel rests shaving at their'. outer ends the upwardlyprojecting the head and carrier designed to be mounted and used on a bicycle havingthe most common form of diamond frame, reference to be had to Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5.

4 A represents a bar having longitudinally v therewithinat itsirear end portion the rearwardly-opening socket a and4 having the slot e, extending through the bar near its rear end from top to bottom, intersecting said passage nally and adjustably movable in said socket, the same at its rear. end being provided with the yoke or fork b2 to engage the upright frame member d represents a bolt engaging through an intermediate part oftherod b, the same being capable of sliding along in the slot e, washers f surrounding the upper and lower extremities of the bolt, such washers lying on the upper and lower surfaces of the bar, and the lowerv endbf the bolt is screw-threaded, receiving thereon the thumb-nut g, the head of the bolt confining between it and the adjacent washer an intermediate portion of thestrap h.

The forward end of the bar A is bifurcated, having the opposite sidemembers t' c' tol straddle and engagethe heady oftheV bicycle- A frame at' its portion A adjacent the'.A j uncticn Aor sockets. b represents a rod lcngitudi-- therewith'fofthe under upwardly and forwardly extending frame member e, the forward'end portion of thebar A being supported by said frame members. The forward exprevided at opposite guard-lugs jz. Near the forward en'dof the said bar A the load-supporting paired bars B 4B are pivotally connected, m representing the common pivot-bolt therefor, and when the carrier is in use these bars are swung to occupy the positions of projection forward lof with some divergence, as indicated in Fig. 2, such bars having stable supportmboth von the pivot-bolt ni, on which they forwardly onto which they are swung. The forwardlend'of the barhasat its upper part the slightly forwardly incli ning widened por- A tion ln., which serves as the bars B B are swung forwardly to cause them tohave divergent relations, as shown, the connection of said bars B B with the supporting and pivot bolt allow- ,are'adapted to swing, and on the rests j j, v v

ICO

ing a slight though suflicient degree of play of the bars laterally relative to the plane of swinging movement. 1

For purposes of durability and strength I surround the end portions of the bars B B, through which the bolt m is passedvith straps or oblated sleeves o.

The forward ends of the extension and su pport bars B B are provided with cleats j), while on rearward portions of said bars sheaves q are provided. A cord s is by its one end secured to each cleat and passes thence through the sheave and when not in use has its end returned to and stayed by engagement with the cleat. These cords properly slackened are available for securing a basket, bundle, or other receptacle or article tobe carried on the supporting extensionarms B B, it being understood that the cords after being brought to encircling relations around the load are suitably secured either to the cleats or to the bars themselves, and in lieu of the fastening devices, consisting of the cords, cleats, and sheaves, some other form rof securing means may be employed.

As I have constructed and used this lugy gage-carrier in the form shown and as described, when the bar A is engaged on and adjusted lengthwise to the frame of the machine no other clips or fastenings have been found necessary, it being understood that in placing the bar A in engagement on the frame in the position shown in Fig. l the thumbnut gis first loosened, so that the engagement parts b2 and t t' may be brought into their proper relations to the frame member a' and the member y at the junction of the one e therewith, and then the rod Z) is forced endwse as far as possible, whereupon the nut g is tightened.

Vhe'n the luggage-carrier is not to be used as such, the cords s s are drawn closely alongside the bars B B, and the latter are swung baclcwardly alongside the main support-bar A, and' at such time the strap t is utilized to hold such bars B B closely alongside bar A and against falling downwardly.

In the form of the luggage-carrier which has been described in detail the same is capable of receiving quite heavy loads, the weight thereof being ultimately sustained by the frame of the bicycle with more or less distribution of the weight and strains at the rear of the frame, so that the head of the machine is relieved, the poise of the vehicle being the better maintained and the steering thereof more easily performed.

The form of .the luggage-carrier which I have devised and applied in use on ladies wheels illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6 possesses features of invention in common with the carrier shown in Figs. l and 3 in that it comprises a supporting-bar A2 to be mounted on the frame, with the forwardly-extending support-bars B2 B2, pivotally mounted on the bar A2, adapted to be swung forwardly therefrom to extend in advance of the head and having provided therefor stops `7'2 j2 for sustaining the load-supporting bars against giving away under the weight imposed thereon. In this form of the device the main bar A2 is concave on its under side, as indicated at l0, to it the lower frame member l2 of the ladies wheel next back of the head, it lying between the heady/and the stay or reinforce 13, and at its rear end the bar A2 has the an-' gular extensionl with the erotched end 1G, the part l5 lying along in front of the reinforcing part 13 of the frame,while the crotched extremity thereof engages the upper frame member 1G. In this form of the carrier the extension-bars B2'are pivoted intermediately of their ends at the forward end of the main supporting appliance A2, so that when these bars are swung into their forwardly-extended positions the rear end portions thereof behind their place of pivotal support at o2 engage under the cross-arms of the upstanding T-shaped part 17, which cross-arms constitute the stops or rests corresponding'to those j in the form ofthe luggage-carrier illusltrated in Fig.- 3. I

The inner depending members of the crossarm extremity are inclined and the sides of the rear portions of the bars B2are likewise inclined or beveled, so that when these inclined parts (indicated at 1S and 19') are brought into engagement the rear ends-ofl the `supportbars B2 are drawn together, the forward ends being caused to assume' divergent relations, thereby constituting a suitably-widened supporty for the bundle or receptacle to be carried, suitable play at the pivotal Iconnection at 02 being permittedl for thisk lateral disposition of the support-bar for the purpose' explained.

IOO

I may,-if desired', provide clips or clamps of an ordinary character for holding the main bar A or A2 of the carriers on the frame, but such I should notvconsider to involve invention and do not deem illustration thereof necessary.

I do not limit myself" to the use of any particular material or combinations of materials in the construction of my improvedluggagecarrier.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a luggage-carrier for a bicycle, an appliance to be mounted on the frame of the vehicle, provided with support-bars pivotally mounted thereon adapted to be swung; forwardly to extend approximately horizontally in advance of the head of the vehicle, and stops or rests provided on the frame-support- IIO IZO

ed appliance for sustaining the support-bars against giving way Linder the weight of the load imposed thereon, substantially as described.

2. 'In a luggage-carrier for a bicycle, an appliance to be nounted on the frame of the vehicle at the rear of the head thereof, provided with support-bars pivotally mounted Iso thereon, adapted to be; swung forwardly to extend approximatelyhorizontally in advance of the head, means for causing said bars to be also forwardly inclined outwardly, and rests or stops provided on the frame-supported appliance for limiting the support-bars to sustain the load thereon.

3. In a luggage-carrier for a bicycle, the barA having at its forward end means for engagement with a forward part of the bicycleframe, and having its rear portion constructed with a longitudinally-distensible member and means for adjustably coniining it, and having the rests j j provided at opposite sides of its forward portion, combined with which arev the support-bars B B having end portions thereof pivoted to the said bar A and adapted to be supported on said rests, and also adapted to be swung rearwardly closely alongside said bar A when not in use.

, 4. In aluggage-carrier, the bar A having at its forward end means for engagement with a forward part of the bicycle-frame and provided with the transversely-extending rests jj, 'and having its rear end constructed with the longitudinal socket a and the cross-slot 'intersecting same, the rod b endwise movable in said socket and provided at its rear end with a frame-engaging device, the bolt engaged through said rod b and playing endwise. in said slot, and having a confining-nut on its extremity, supporting members pivotally mounted on said bar A at a point to the rear of said rests and extending forwardly of the head of the machine, and provided with fastening appliances for 'confining the load thereon, substantially as described.

5. In a luggage-carrier, the bar A having at its forward end the separated members t' t',

the for wardly-Widened'inclined portion n, and the transversely-extending rests jj provided with the upturned lugs j?, and having its rear portion constructed with a longitudinally-distensible member 'formed with a part to engagel a rear portion of the frame, and 'means a for adjustably coniining `said member, and

the support-bars B B having their rear end portions pivoted to said bar A to the rear of the rests j and adapted in their forward extension to beV supported by such rests and in divergent relations, as described and shown.

6. In a luggage-carrier, the barA having its forward end constructed with the fork-like members it, and the lateral rests j j, and having its rear end constructed with the longitudinal socket and intersecting slot, the rod playing in said socket and provided with the fork or yoke b2, the bolt having a slide movement in said slot engaging through said rod, provided with the thumb-nut and having engaged therewith the strap h, and the supporting arms or bars B B having their rear ends pivotaliy connected to a forward end portion of the bar A, but at a point to the rear of the lateral rests, and adapted to be extended from their points of. pivotal connection forwardly opposite each other beyond the head of the bicycle-receiving support by said rests, and

also adapted to be swung rearwardly closely' y alongside the bar A to be confined by said strap, and said bars B B being provided with the cleats, sheaves and fastening-cords, all substantially as described and shown. 

